The Uttar Pradesh government is stepping up efforts to attract Global Capability Centres (GCCs) beyond the National Capital Region, with a renewed focus on developing tier-II cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi as major destinations for global businesses. The initiative is part of the state’s broader strategy to diversify investment, create high-skilled jobs and strengthen its technology-driven economy.
Tier-II Cities Take Centre Stage
While Noida and Greater Noida have already established themselves as prominent GCC destinations in North India, the state government is now promoting other urban centres that offer strong infrastructure, educational institutions and a growing talent base. Officials believe that cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi are well positioned to attract multinational companies looking to expand their global operations in India.
According to the state’s vision, expanding GCCs into tier-II cities will help distribute economic growth more evenly while creating employment opportunities closer to emerging talent pools.
Infrastructure and Talent Driving Growth
The government has highlighted several factors that make Uttar Pradesh an attractive destination for GCC investments. These include a large working-age population, improving urban infrastructure and the presence of premier educational institutions such as IIT Kanpur, IIM Lucknow and IIT-BHU.
Major infrastructure projects, including the Noida International Airport, the proposed Fintech Park and Singapore City in the Yamuna Expressway region, an expanding expressway network and industrial reforms, are further strengthening the state’s appeal among global investors.
Focus on Emerging Technologies
The state is particularly targeting investments in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced digital services and drone technology. Officials believe these sectors can play a key role in driving innovation-led growth and generating high-value employment opportunities for young professionals.
By encouraging technology-focused GCCs, Uttar Pradesh aims to position itself as a preferred destination for companies seeking research, engineering, analytics, finance and technology operations.
Attractive Incentives Under GCC Policy
To accelerate investment, the state has introduced a comprehensive Global Capability Centres Policy offering a range of incentives for companies setting up operations in Uttar Pradesh.
The policy includes benefits such as:
- Land subsidies ranging from 30 to 50 percent depending on location
- Full exemption on stamp duty
- Capital investment support
- Operational expenditure assistance
- Payroll-linked incentives
- Employee Provident Fund reimbursements
- Support for research and development activities
The incentive structure has been designed to encourage companies to establish centres not only in developed regions but also in emerging cities across Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.
Government Strengthens GCC Ecosystem
The Uttar Pradesh government has also approved implementation rules and standard operating procedures for the GCC policy, with Invest UP serving as the nodal agency for facilitating investments and approvals. Officials say the framework is intended to simplify processes and provide faster support to investors.
In addition, the state has introduced measures to develop modern business parks and plug-and-play infrastructure aimed at attracting multinational corporations, research centres and technology firms.
Creating Jobs and Driving Regional Development
Industry experts note that GCCs have evolved from back-office support centres into strategic hubs handling functions such as technology development, engineering, analytics, finance, research and innovation. As a result, they generate high-quality employment and contribute significantly to local economies.
The state’s GCC push is expected to support job creation across technology, research, finance and knowledge services while helping tier-II cities emerge as new centres of economic activity.
Building Uttar Pradesh’s Global Business Presence
With a combination of policy incentives, infrastructure investments and a strong talent ecosystem, Uttar Pradesh is seeking to position itself among India’s leading destinations for Global Capability Centres.
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By extending opportunities beyond Noida and NCR into cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi, the state aims to attract long-term investments, promote innovation and create a broader technology-driven growth corridor across Uttar Pradesh.